In a sea of films, the waves can sometimes become so predictable that, while sailing, you hope for a wave that may have a different shape, such as square, so it stands out and gives you a new experience. Unfortunately the chance of this happening is extremely small, but as a film lover you hope to discover one. A film which gives you hope that there are still unique things to be found. Gräns (Border) is such a title. Continue reading
Category Archives: Fantasy
Love, Death & Robots (2019) – Review
Although a load of new content appears on Netflix every week, I generally take the time to watch what interests me. I add it to my viewing list when it is announced and I often see it a few weeks after it has been released. However, last week was a week in which I could not wait until the releases of Triple Frontier (review will follow), season 2 of The OA and this series, Love, Death & Robots. With Tim Miller (director of Deadpool) and David Fincher as executive producers and a science fiction approach, I was very curious. I had not seen the trailer and I was totally unprepared for what I would experience, but when I started watching, I couldn’t get enough of it. Continue reading
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) – Review
When I think of director Robert Rodriguez, I do not immediately feel that I should see every project he does. His first film El Mariachi was good, I have been able to enjoy the Spy Kids films for what they are and Sin City is perhaps his best, but the feeling of Grindhouse-like films that he has done a lot (eg. the Machete titles) prevails. I did not really have any expectations about Alita: Battle Angel, but the fact that this is a project that James Cameron wanted to make for nearly twenty years, besides Avatar, and he was also involved in developing this Rodriguez version, could result in something interesting. I decided to watch the film the best way possible, in a Dolby Cinema. Is Alita: Battle Angel worth it? Continue reading
Glass (2019) – Review
While Unbreakable did not really leave a lasting impression on me, it was very different with (what at the end of the film turned out to be) the follow-up Split. A film that I was a huge fan of and I could not wait to see the third part in this trilogy, Glass, in which the characters from the first two films come together. Continue reading
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) – Review
Nothing is as magical as seeing a movie on the big screen. Because of its size and sound, it is an environment in which you forget everything around you and where you are pulled into the screen. During the running time of the film you are in a place where anything is possible. I thought it would be a good idea to see Mary Poppins Returns at the cinema, because the original Mary Poppins was pure magic. The wonderful role of Julie Andrews, the songs of the Sherman brothers, which stayed on your mind for a long time and of course the fantastic worlds that the nanny took the kids to. It was a pity that after a little over two hours watching this new film, I had not left my chair for a second, looked at my watch regularly wondering when it would be over and questioning why this Mary Poppins movie does not work. Continue reading
Aquaman (2018) – Review
You only have one time to make a first impression and when DC, inspired by the success of Marvel and their “shared universe” of films, tried the same thing, it was not really successful. Batman vs. Superman disappointed and the same was true for Justice League. Where the Marvel films were mainly light-hearted and entertaining, that was not the case in the DC universe. That does not have to be a problem, as the Batman films of Christopher Nolan have proven that a realistic, dark atmosphere can work, but the general public doesn’t seem to look forward to the films of the studio as much. Wonder Woman might have been the exception, but that also succeeded because it had a different tone. Aquaman was introduced in the In Justice League film and Jason Mamoa gave the character both a serious as a lighthearted feel by for example joking about Batman. Now the character gets his own movie. Is this another disappointing DC movie or has the company finally found the right balance? Continue reading
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) – Review
Sequels should only be made if you actually have a good idea that could work. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is an example of a movie where this obviously isn’t the case. After the park went out of control in the previous movie, the island has been abandoned and the dinosaurs lived as free animals. As that isn’t an interesting setup for a movie, they are now threathened by a vulcano on the island that will wipe them out once again. Problem solved you could say, but the government is thinking about rescuing them and not letting them go extinct. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) is running the Dinosaur Protection Group in support of this plan. When the government decides against rescue, she is approached by Benjamin Lockwood who has a plan to relocate the dinosaurs to a new location where they can live “in peace”. She must convince Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to join her. Once she does, they head to Isla Nublar and things don’t exactly go as planned. Continue reading
Gods of Egypt (2016) – Review
When I announced my list of blindspot movies for 2018, I got the most reactions (both here and on my Dutch site) about why I added Gods of Egypt. Why would I want to see this film? Some told me it’s a movie you want to switch off after 20 minutes. Of course I knew about the criticism the movie got, but that made me even more curious. So it was the first movie I watched on that list. Did I start out right? Continue reading
Bright (2017) – Review
Last year Netflix was involved in a fierce battle around Bright’s rights. They eventually managed to offer more than big studios like Warner Brothers and MGM and payed 90 million dollars for this title. The film is directed by David Ayer, who seems to specialize in police dramas (End of Watch, Training Day, Street Kings) and also major films such as Fury and Suicide Squad, is a title for which expectations were high. With famous actors in the main roles, Will Smith, Joel Edgerton and Noomi Rapace, this is the type of blockbuster for which you would normally head to the cinema. Now you can see it at home after a few clicks on your remote control.
It’s something not everyone is happy about (last year there was a heated discussion at the Cannes Film Festival about what services such as Netflix mean for film in general. Of course the convenience of watching it at home is very nice, but is Bright a title that is worth watching? Continue reading
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) – Review
When Star Wars: The Force Awakens was announced, the fans were tense. The second trilogy (Episode I to III) disappointed many and people wondered if it was necessary to make new films. Was it possible to make movies which reached the same level as the original films? J.J.Abrams also must have felt that pressure, as he decided not to take too much risk by using many elements of A New Hope and fan favorites like Han Solo/Leia plus introducing new characters like Rey, Finn and Poe.
It was this mix that ensured that fans embraced the film and were curious about answers to the questions that The Force Awakens asked. Who are Rey’s parents, what is the story behind Kylo Ren and what can Luke do to help the rebels? These are all questions that The Last Jedi tries to answer. Continue reading